The solution to homelessness is to provide housing, not encampment evictions or more fences. Addiction treatment & mental health services are most successful when people are in stable housing.
Our city is worse off when commonsense solutions face 16 months of roadblocks from Mayor Frey.
City Council first approved the funding for this emergency housing to be implemented in 2025. The Frey administration refused to implement these vouchers for the entire year of 2025. Minneapolis could have had over 150 people off the streets and into homes last year, but Mayor Frey chose not to.
Emergency Housing Vouchers Budget priority. The solution to homelessness is providing people with housing, not encampment evictions. Addiction treatment and mental health services are most successful when people are in stable housing.
Early this month, City Council unanimously approved an agreement with the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority to finally provide emergency housing vouchers for 50 families and 50 of our neighbors experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The emergency housing is paired with wraparound social services.
But if Minneapolis wants to make good places for kids to play in the winter they could also consider keeping park playground bathrooms open year round! We use the playgrounds in the winter but are time limited because the bathrooms are locked! I understand why they’re closed, but open em.
People are shitting on this because the lady in the article from shakopee probably isn’t actually going to use it, but hi, I’m a mom in northeast who has to drive to new Brighton and Shoreview and Blaine for indoor playgrounds and I’d use it.
Man, when you compare the bravery of every day Minnesotans to the overpaid cops it’s astounding
Sex in commercial buildings⁉️ It makes spicy headlines, but the truth is that bathhouses have a long history as safe spaces in the LGBTQIA+ community. Let’s repeal the bathhouse ban and make Minneapolis a city where our queer communities thrive. Thank you @jchavezmpls.bsky.social for leading this!
Report: Pet restrictions, fees a barrier to affordable housing in Minneapolis Jude, a 2-year-old pit bull mix being held at the city animal shelter, takes a rest while out on a run with a volunteer in Minneapolis in May 2023. Ben Hovland | MPR News file
I worked with city staff to bring a legislative directive to examine barriers to housing options created by pet restrictions, particularly large-breed restrictions that are based on perception rather than science.
Last week I joined @angelaconley.bsky.social and Rep Samantha Sencer-Mura for a Women in Politics panel hosted by USG and UPSA UMN. It’s always a wonderful event to uplift the leadership of women in politics and support the next generations of women political leaders.
Someone inside city hall — not a politician, not D.A. — made this exact point to me the other day. They noted nobody in Frey’s coalition even remotely has the legislative policy chips of, say, @ward2.minneapolismn.gov. They just outsource everything to the mayor’s office.
Dear Strib: Tired of Minneapolis City Hall Drama? Focus on Something Else. By, well, me. racketmn.com/dear-strib-t...
Anyone who looks to fairly judge nominees based on their current job performance would come to the conclusion that Toddrick Barnette is unfit for the role. In any normal job, if someone oversaw a department that unexpectedly overspent its budget by $20 million you would be immediately fired.
This is all just a set up. Most productive council in history, most diverse, and people who just work really hard for our neighbors. We get made to be punching bag to tee up for the charter amendment on the ballot to strip council power and in turn constituent power. Don’t fall for it.
There is a lot of talk about re-appointment of city officials, so I wanted to talk about it. I voted against re-appointing Public Safety Commissioner Barnette because I take my role of oversight seriously, and we deserve leaders who are tracking and being responsible with taxpayer dollars.
* Under Commissioner Barnette's supervision, MPD overspent their budget by nearly $20 million dollars. Commissioner Barnette concedes this oversight was due to the lack of engaged conversations with MPD leadership, and that he was not aware of the overspend until the third financial quarter of 2025. It is unacceptable for the City's senior leadership to make the kind of mistakes that come at a direct expense for taxpayers while undercutting the delivery of services. * City workers (AFSCME Local 9 ) in the departments under Commissioner Barnette’s oversight sent a letter describing his leadership which is disqualifying. * Under the leadership of Commissioner Barnette, the City Council was asked to approve contracts with an individual who disrupted a council meeting, hurled homophobic remarks at me, and made threats. * During Commissioner Barnette's tenure, council members received several complaints from contractors for lack of communication, delay in contract execution, and clarity on the broader strategy for violence prevention, for which they were selected to play a role. * Commissioner Barnette was absent and often unengaged from the work of Commissioner. He had a hard time answering questions the Council and the public had. He often seemed, and acknowledged, that he was uninformed about the ongoing work and issues of many of the departments he oversees. As Chair of the Public Health, Safety, and Equity Committee, I have had more direct engagement with the Office of Community Safety than nearly any other member of this Council. What I witnessed over the course of Commissioner Barnette’s tenure was a pattern of disengagement that left departments without direction and residents without answers. I am calling on Mayor Frey to establish a search committee effective immediately so that the Office of Community Safety can focus on rebuilding. Sincerely, Jason Chavez
Dear neighbor,
I wanted to tell you about why I voted against reappointing Commissioner Toddrick Barnette, and why Mayor Frey’s characterization of that vote is wrong and disingenuous. 1/
"However, when considering the other ways this money could improve our communities, whether through building affordable housing or investing in public schools, it’s hard to believe this is the best option.”
Thank you Amelia W for this great oped!
“After two months of Operation Metro Surge, when thousands of federal officers flooded our streets and arrested more than 3,700 Minnesota residents, it’s hard to believe most Minnesotans would be looking for more militarization of our cities.
buff.ly/Ol5AnyE
Instead of endless war & handouts to billionaires, our tax dollars could fund everything for all of us—we're laying out how with @debtcollective.bsky.social, @nationalpriorities.bsky.social & @cplusc.bsky.social
🌹 RSVP! -> actionnetwork.org/events/tax-d...
It's 💸Tax Day 2026💸—and the Trump admin is doling out a trillion dollar military budget & trillions in tax breaks for the rich, while slashing public goods for millions of Americans.🤑
We know that Workers Deserve More!🌹
Join our call on what our dollars could fund instead!👁️
This rent assistance funds are being administered by Hennepin County to reach renters faster.
Share the application link if you know someone in need. These funds will not require an eviction filing for residents to seek access.
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ICE created an eviction crisis in MN. No family should have to choose between keeping a roof over their head and risking being kidnapped by ICE.
City Council now has allocated $2 million to support renters, with an additional $1 million match from the Wilson Foundation.
@robin4mpls.bsky.social is such a remarkable advocate for citizens across the city—especially for the most vulnerable. Honored by her endorsement, and eager to work with her to protect our students and their families.
Robin, Cedrick Frazier, Ilhan Omar, Keith Ellison and MALCS organizers.
Thank you MALCS organizers for this powerful opportunity last week to bring together myself, @ilhanmn.bsky.social, @keithellison.bsky.social and @cedrickfrazier.bsky.social to reflect on the impact of ICE’s occupation at all levels of government and what’s to come.
•PAUSE EVICTIONS SAVELIVES 45 DAY PRE-EVICTION NOTICE PERIOD PUBLIC HEARING COME TESTIFY! The Minneapolis City Council will vote to extend the pre-eviction notice period from 30 to 45days. Date: April 21st 1:30 pm Committee of the Whole Location: Council Chambers 350 S 5th St Minneapolis, MN
Our community continues to face an extreme housing crisis cause by Operation Metro Surge. Recent reports by Homeline show that eviction filings are up by 18% in Minnesota compared to this time last year. I am proud to bring forward an extension of the 30 pre-eviction notice period to 45 days.
Photo of Aurin Chowdhury speaking at the planning commission meeting as the photo that is used for the KSTP article titled: Minneapolis Planning Commission advances overnight parking plan for people living in cars Renée Cooper KSTP April 6, 2026 - 11:04 PM EYEWITNESS NEWS Minneapolis leaders are moving ahead with a plan to allow overnight parking lots for people living in their cars
BIG News! I serve on the planning commission, and we unanimously passed the zoning code text amendment that would allow for safe parking zones for those facing homelessness living in their cars.
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Last week, the Minneapolis Planning Commission unanimously approved a zoning code amendment I authored with my colleagues. This would would allow safe and designated parking for neighbors experiencing homelessness in their vehicles. 1/
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When I decided to get into this race, it was to make sure our MPS kids have access to the best education we can provide. That means fully investing in our public schools, being accountable to community, and building relationships at the legislature to get it done. Let’s get to work!
Whether they’re unable or unwilling, at this point it’s clear that Barnette and the Office of Community Safety is a failure and the resources would be better spent investing directly in programs that prevent violence in our communities, rather than bureaucratic barriers that undermine our safety.
Year after year, Barnette has failed to do anything to meaningfully advance public safety beyond policing. Despite Barnette having the highest salary in the city and Council allocating millions for a step-by-step plan on how to build a comprehensive public safety system, progress has stalled.
Council members like myself have spent countless hours triaging calls and emails from violence prevention contractors, community leaders, and other government partners who were hitting operational and logistical dead ends in all attempts to productively engage with the Office of Community Safety.
